CRASH OF A C-47A DAKOTA
BETWEEN COOKTOWN AND PORT MORESBY
ON 27 MARCH 1945
USAAF C 47A-90-DL Dakota, #43-16011, c/n 20477 (see Note below) disappeared on a flight between Cooktown and Finschhafen on 27 March 1945.
Michael Claringbould's book, "The Forgotten Fifth" mentions that Captain Eldred Kellogg was never seen again after take-off from Cooktown in a C-47 headed for Ward's airfield in Port Moresby on 27 March 1945.
Another source shows that Lt. Gregor M. Bronson, of the 8th Bomb Squadron of the 3rd Bomb Group boarded a C-47 at Garbutt airfield in Townsville on 27 March 1945 on his way to Finschhaven in New Guinea. I have assumed that this was this aircraft.
With assistance from Gordon Birkett I can now confirm that the twenty four crew and passengers on this aircraft were as follows:-
CREW | |
Capt. Eldred E. Kellogg (0-803830) | 772nd Bomber Squadron, 417th Bomber Group, Large |
Capt. James E. Dickey (0-804626) | 772nd Bomber Squadron, 417th Bomber Group, Large |
S/Sgt. William P. Caruthers (37226279) | 773rd Bomber Squadron, 417th Bomber Group, Large |
S/Sgt. Morris Cohen (31159757) | 773rd Bomber Squadron, 417th Bomber Group, Large |
PASSENGERS | |
Capt. Robert F. Mekker (0-804705) | |
1st. Lt. Richard F. Stanley (0-762500) | 773rd Bomber Squadron, 417th Bomber Group, Large |
S/Sgt. William I. Shaw (16186470) | 772nd Bomber Squadron, 417th Bomber Group, Large |
2nd. Lt. Harvey J. McHenry (0-771085) | 773rd Bomber Squadron, 417th Bomber Group, Large |
1st. Lt.Victor Paschild (0-759722) | 772nd Bomber Squadron, 417th Bomber Group, Large |
2nd. Lt. Gregor N. Bronson (0-762454) | 8th Bomber Squadron, 3rd Bomber Group, Large |
S/Sgt. Luigi F. Bettina (32742626) | 772nd Bomber Squadron, 417th Bomber Group, Large |
S/Sgt. Fred O. Miller (18062910) | 772nd Bomber Squadron, 417th Bomber Group, Large |
Sgt. Frank A. Lovalle (33603032) | |
Sgt. James F. Tyres (34711240) | |
Sgt. Glenn E. Sinclair (6245345) | 772nd Bomber Squadron, 417th Bomber Group, Large |
Sgt. Albert L. Descochers (31353365) | |
Sgt. Harry C. Gould (36454944) | 773rd Bomber Squadron, 417th Bomber Group, Large |
Sgt. Michael Mikula (12135212) | 773rd Bomber Squadron, 417th Bomber Group, Large |
Sgt. Emerson A. Tanner (34651430) | 773rd Bomber Squadron, 417th Bomber Group, Large |
Sgt. Selby L. Yates (16075385) | 773rd Bomber Squadron, 417th Bomber Group, Large |
2nd. Lt. Robert A. Daube (0-779805) | 65th Bomber Squadron, 43rd Bomber Group, Heavy |
2nd. Lt. Thomas D. Galey (0-206078) | 403rd Bomber Squadron, 43rd Bomber Group, Heavy |
2nd Lt. Kenneth W. Sober (0-783215) | 65th Bomber Squadron, 43rd Bomber Group, Heavy |
2nd. Lt. Robert G. Powell (0-2034437) |
The following data is from the American Battle Monuments Commission Home Page:-
Eldred E. Kellogg |
Captain, U.S. Army Air Forces0-803830772nd Bomber Squadron, 417th Bomber Group, Large |
Entered the Service from: New
York Died: March 27, 1945 Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery Manila, Philippines |
Awards: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster |
James E. Dickey |
Captain, U.S. Army Air Forces0-804626772nd Bomber Squadron, 417th Bomber Group, Large |
Entered the Service from: North
Carolina Died: March 27, 1945 Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery Manila, Philippines |
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters |
William F. Caruthers |
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces37226279773rd Bomber Squadron, 417th Bomber Group, Large |
Entered the Service from:
Kansas Died: March 27, 1945 Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery Manila, Philippines |
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Gregor M. Bronson |
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces0-7624548th Bomber Squadron, 3rd Bomber Group, Large |
Entered the Service from:
Washington Died: July 27, 1945 (This is the wrong date but other details seem to agree) Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery Manila, Philippines |
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An official record of the loss of
this aircraft (via Gordon Birkett)
Another official record of the
loss of
this aircraft (via Gordon Birkett)
NOTE:- The "Aircraft Crash Sites" list shows the C-47 as aircraft No. #43-16013 whereas Peter Nielsen's book "Diary of WWII - North Queensland" shows it as #43-16011.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I'd like to thank Gordon Birkett and Norman Weeding for their assistance with this home page.
SOURCE:- Aircraft Crash Sites - Australia
Crash: No. 16
Position: 15.28 - 145.14
Department of Aviation Chart No: 3112
REFERENCE BOOK
The Forgotten Fifth
A Classic Photographic Chronology of the
Fifth Air Force in Action in the Pacific in WW2
By Michael Claringbould
"Diary of WWII - North
Queensland"
Complied by Peter Nielsen
Particularly the
location of the crash. Was it in Australia
or New Guinea or in between?
"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products
© Peter Dunn 2015 |
Please
e-mail me |
This page first produced 9 February 1999
This page last updated 27 February 2020